Car-axle bearing



J. R. STEPHENS.

CAR AXLE BEARING.

' PPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPPP 92p. I 1,401,203. Patented Deb. 27, 1921.

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J. R. STEPHINS.

CAR AXLE BEARING.

l APPLICATION FILED SEPT.2.1920 I 1,40 1,203, Patented Dee. 27, 1921.

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J. R. STEPHENS.

CAR AXLE BEARING. APPLxcATloN man SEPT. 2. 1920.

1,401,203. 'Patent-ea De..27, 1921.

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UNITED STATES PATENToFFicE.

JOHN n. STEPHENS, or' '-sr. LOUIS, MISSOURI.y

cria-expr. BEARING.

Application iled Septeinb er To all whom t may concern.'

Be it known that l, JOHN R. STEPHENS, arcitizen of the UnitedStates, residing in the city of St. Louis and State of Missouri., have invented new and useful Improvements in Car-Axle Bearings, o t which the following is a speciiication. j

This invention relates to ca r axle bearings intended more particularly for use with mine cars, although not limitedto such application. The invention has for its general object to provide a novel construction of combined bearing block and support for a car axle and to provide novel means for locking the saine in position in the jouinal box or housing. y .Y Y

The general object oit iny invention las it relates to securing the bearing block and support inposition may be attained in vari-l ous ways, andv in the drawings accompanying this application I have shown three different ways of accomplishing this object. According to one of these a plate isinserted through the top of the box and engages one side of the bearing block and support, the plate itself engaging at its opposite side against the wall of the casing. ln another form the combined bearing block and support is bodily inserted through an opening in the top oi the journal box and is held in position by engagement with i'ixed parts on the interior of the journal box. v

iccording to a third form of the invention, the bearing block and support is inserted through the end of the Yjournal box and a novel construction of locking plate, also insertible through the end oli the jour-g nal box, is provided 'for engaging the bearing block and support to hold it in position,` and novel means are also provided for holding the locking plate inposition. f

My invention therefore has for further objects the provision or' certain novel constructions and arrangements of parts whereby the general object above indicated is attained.

4In the accompanying drawing,

Figure 1 is a cross sectional view throughY a car axle bearing and box showing the bearing block and support held in position in the box by a locking plate inserted through an opening in the top of the box;

Fig. 2 is a horizontal sectional view on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1, the axle and bearingv block being shown in plan; j

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 1 but Specifica-tion of Letters Patent. faeuted Dec,

27, 1921. e, 192m arial No. 407,652. 'i

Fig. 5 is a view similar 4to Fig. 1, but on a reduced scale showing the construction in which the bearing block and the locking plate therefor are inserted through the opening in the end of the box;

F ig. 6 is a view in horizontal section through the box in Fig. 5 taken 4on the line (36 of said figure, the bearing block, axle, loclring plate and allied parts being shown in plan; j j j Fig. 7 is a sectional view taken on the .line 7 7 of Fig. 5 and viewed in the direction of the arrows; kand `F 8 isa view in side elevation showing the bearing bloclrof Figs. 1, 2, 5 andV G in position on the axle. j

Referring now particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the numeral 9 indicates a joui-nal box adapted to be secured in the ordinary mannerv on the under side of a sill 10 of the car and haring an interioily screw-threaded projection 11 extending upward through the sill.throughgwhich oilv may be supplied to the interior ofthe journal box. The screw-*threads in this projection are for receiving-the correspondingly threaded shank et a headed bolt, 111l for closing the opening in the projection. Between the sill l() Land the upper side of the top 12 ot the journal box inserted astout iron plate 13. The jourinilbox is apertured at opposite endsas shown in Fig. Q to receive the axle 14, suitable dust guards 15 being mounted as usual in housings 16 at opposite sides of thenjourforv about the width of the bearing has an integral downwardly extending portion4 21,-

and the bearing block 1S extends an equal distance on either side of the portion 21 and` these projecting portions are lprovided on their under side with a semi-circular recess 22 which receives the upper halt of the axle ico 14 within the journal box. At the central portion 19 of the bearing block the recess 22 j merges Vinto a central circular opening 23y extending through the bearing bloclrand the Cri extension2'l through which the axle let' extends. At either end'of the bearing block are provided Acentral ,projecting abutments whiclnfwhen the bearing bloclris in position on the axle, engage the inner faces ofannular washers 25 inserted on the axle which serve to hold the bearing block from longitudinal movement onV the axle. 1 ,The outer sides of the washers 25 bear against' the inner walls of the journal box surrounding the' axle andy the purpose ofthe abutments 2e is to permit of movements of the bearing block 17, such as occur in the operai tion of the cars and at tlie'same time, prevent the ends of the bearing block from' engaging the side walls of the journal box. VIt should be explained that 'if the ends of the bearing block are permitted toengagethe walls of the journal box they would tend to jamb the bearing block in the'box. The journal box 9 is providedV at its innei end `with an opening 26, which is adapted to beclosed by a dustproof door2; in the usual,

or any preferred way, and through this opening the bearing block and'support is adapted to be inserted to have the position in Vthe journal box shown in lig.k 1, afterV I whichV the vjournal box lis passed over the Y Y end of the axleV which also passes through thebearing block and support. Owing to the restricted area of the interiorofthe journal box, in order to enable the bearing block and supportto be turned into position, corners thereof along either rside. are beveled off as indicated at 28, and the corners of-tlieVv portion 21, at the bottom, are correspondingly beveled as indicated at 29.

Y rit its forward end'the wall of the journal Y' box Vis thickened centrally to provide a rib i 30, which projects downwardly at one side of the oil hole 31 to a point slightly below the longitudinal center of the axle 14. The rib 3G on its inner side provides a wall against which the forward side of the support 21 and the central portion of the bearing block rest, as shown in Fig. 1, and where the wall merges withVv the top 12 of the journal box the chamber provided is shaped to conform Vto the configuration of the beveled portion 28 of the bearing block at the center thereof. lIt is desirable to provideagainstverticah as well as lateral movement of'tliecoinbined bearing block and supportand to this end that the bottom of the support 21 should rest i upon a fixed member on the interior of the journal box. In the form of the invention vshown the bottom of the support 21 cannot rest upon the bottom ofV the journal box as 'Y it will then be impossibleto turn the 'combined bearing block and support into posi tion. It is necessary, therefore, after the theV journal box.

combined bearingV vblockV `and support has been placed in position to insert a shim unj der its bottom edgeg VVith this'in Viewy the i bottom of the'journal-box is provided on Vwhich end is thus prevented from lateral movement. The opposite endoftlie Vshim is Vprovided withY a vertically disposed aperture 34. VThe forward wall ofthe journal box is Vprovided with two inwardly extending parallel projections 35 which are provided with alining apertures 36 and when the` shim 33 is in position its opening 34@ will be in alinement Vwith the opening '36. rlChe numeral 37 indicates a pin which is inserted through the 'oil hole 3.1, its lower vend por-V tion passing through the apertures 36 Vand the aperture 34 in the shim and itslower end resting upon the bottom of the journal kbox 9. When-so positioned theV pin 37 operates to hold the forward endf of thershimV against lateral. and longitudinal 'move` ment. ThebottomV of bolt 11a engages the top of pin 37v and prevents yit from disengaging from the shim 33 vertically 1n order tolock the bearing block and' support Vatits inner side against movement I pro vide theV construction now to be described.

The numeral 38 indicates a locking plate which, as shown in Fig. 2, is rectangular in shape and is adapted to be inserted endwise through a correspondingly shapedk aperture 39 provided in thetop 12 of thejournal box.

When so insertedthe locking plate 38 is adapted to have its forward edge engage; more/or less snugly the inner side ofthe bearing block and support 17 while Vthe inner edge of Vsaid locking plate rests against the correspondino1 edge ofthe opening 39 at the top and 'aga-inst the inner side of a] projection 40, forming a sill of the opening 2o.Y

The forward edge ,portion of ,the locking plate 38V is Vadapted to be received between the rearportions of the lugs 32, as Vshown in both Figs. 1 and 2, and said locking plate di isfthus held against lateral and vlongitudinal movement. After the locking plate is inserted inthe journal box its upper end .will

lie Hush with the upper s'ideof the top 12 of course, engages the top of the locking plate whenV the journal Vbox is bolted in position onthecai'. Y fV y By the construction 'described,fl am enabled to provide in one member ai bearing blockto rest upon the top of the axle 1e and a stirrup or support 21, tliepurposeof which The iron plate 13, of`

is to support the axle against excessive downward movement and to maintain the com bined bearing block and 'support `in a relatively lixed position in the bearing Vbox in avery simple 1and etlicientmanner. At the same time, the tapered character of the bearing block and the provision or' the abutments 2li provide for the 'various movements of the bearing block which occur in oil hole 3l before the car with the journal box thereonis placed in operation. n

The main idea "of my invention is shown by the construction illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 and above described and comprises, `as pointed out, the unitary bearing block and support with means for locking the same in position' in the journal box. Inasmuch, however, as the bearing block and support may be locked in position byv other ways known to me than that shown in Figs. land 2, and also to illustrate that the invention is not coniined to the particular construction shown in these ligures, I have considered it desirable to illustrate two Vother constructions in both of which a unitary bearing block and support is employed but different means for locking the same in position are shown. These constructions will now be described.

Referring to Figs. 3 and et I show a construction in which the combined bearing block and supportis held in `position substantiallyV entirely by members formed integral with the journaly box. i To this end the top 12 of the journal box is provided with a rectangular opening t2 through `which the bearing block and support 1f maybe inserted. The bottom of the journal box, on its inner side, is centrally thickened longitudinally as indicated at i2 and in said thickened portion is provided with a rectangular recess 1liwhich receives the lower edge portion of the support 2l. T he central rib 30 as before engages the forward side -of the bearing block and support and the inner side` of said rib in this case forms a continuation of the side of the forward end of the opening 42. At the inner end of the opening 42 the top 12 of the journal box isv provided on its under side with a central depending rib 44 which extends downwardly, preferablyito ai short distance below the center of the axle 14, and the front edge of which forms 'a continuation of therear wall of the opening 42 and is adapted to be engaged by the rear side of the bearing block and support 17. After being placed in position a metal plate or block 15 ot the same size and shape as the opening l2 is ment ofthe latter.

inserted in said opening to rest upon the top A ofthe bearing block and is in turn covered by the stout ironfplate 13, previously reierred to. lVhen the securing bolts 41 are applied, thetop of the journal box will be drawn firmly against the under sidev or' theY plate, andthe latter will be drawn against the under side ofthe sill,'so that these 'par ts become, inleiect a unitary structure. The plate 18 bearing on the block 45, holds'the same in engagement with the top of the bearing block, and prevents vertical move- VIn both of the constructionsfthus tar described itis necessary to remove the yjournal box from the' car in order to be able to remove the bearing block and support from the journal box, yto repair the same or to replace this member with a new one.

The final construction to be described provides forrthe insertion of the `journal lbox and its locking member through the end oi` the box and removal of the same in like manner when desired.

Referring' now to Figs. 5 to 7, the com bined bearing block and support 1T `is adapted to be inserted through the opening 2G and when in positionits bottom edge rests upon the shim 33 which is locked in position by the same means and in the same manner as `illustratedin Fig. 1 and previously described. .;As the locking plate in this confstruction is inserted through the opening 26, it is necessary that this locking plate should have the shape hereinafter described to enable it to be inserted and turned into position, and so` positioned to accomplish the functions desired.y To this end the said locking plate, which isV indicated generally by the numeral 46', `has the contour shown in sisting of a head trounded on its upper Y side as indicated atlaS and a tail-piece L19. The head 47 is of' considerable width as shown in order to provide an extended lat-` eral bearing surfaceand is olf a thickness to fit snugly in the space between the inner side ofthe bearing block and supporti? and the inner face of an abutment 50 formed at the top of the opening 26. The forward side of the tail-piece 49 is beveled away as2 indicated at 51 in Fig. 5 tov enablethe lock-` ing plate i6 as a ywhole to beturned withoutthe tail-piecefstriking the lugs 82, and the inner side of said tail-piece is straightr or flat and is designed to engage the inner i iso 'either side of the journal box. ward side, the locking bar 59 is provided e5v j of the journal box.

plate as a whole in a vertical position as shown in Fig. 7, in which movement 'the yhead 47 will roll upon the under side ofthe top 120i the journal box. In order to securey 1, the locking platc46 from lateral movement the following locking means `are provided:V

Projecting from the rear side of the lool;- ing plate is a lug 54 which constitutes a ledge for supporting a transverse locking bar 55 which Vat its ends is adapted to bear against flanged abutments 56 extending outwardly from opposite sides of the journal box as shown particularly in Fig. 6. The looking bar 55 is providedV with a central Vaperture through which' passes -abolt 57.

havinga screw-threaded end to Yengage in a screwfthreaded aperture in the rear :tace of the locking plate 46, as shown in Fig. 5,V and provided with a squared headV 58 `which is adapted, when the'bolt is turned home, to

engage .the rearside of the locking bary 55 and hold it firmly aga-inst thelabutments and at the same time draw the locking plate 4G firmly against the projectionsy 50 and: 52 This construction as will be seen will hold the locking plate in a` ixedposition against lateral movement. In order to prevent-the said Vlocking plate v:from

turning on the bolt V57 as a pivot I provideA a second locking bar 59 Vwhich is adapted to rest uponthe sill 52 and .be passed at `its ends under lugs 60 projecting inwardgfroniv with a rectangular recess 6l which is adapt ed to embrace the rear side of the tail-piece 49? and at its rear side said locking bar is provided withV acentraly recess 62. Inorder to prevent the bolt57 from turning I provide a keeper 63, the upper endV ot which is provided with a head 64 having a' squared opening 65 adapted to be inserted on .the

head 58 Aof said bolt, and its lowerportion forming a tail-piece 66, the lower end of which isadapted to be received in the recess 62. It will be seen that the keeper 63 will thus be: held trom turning by engagement at its lower end in the recess 62 and in turn formedV as a unitary part ofV saidV bearing block, and means for securing said combined bearing block andsupport ina relatively fixed position within the box.KV Y.

2. In combination withva car axlebox, an

upper bearing block for the axle extending.

longitudinally thereof andadapted to bear At its fors upon the upper inner surface of the box, aA lower relatively narrowsupp'ort for the axle Vtolllled integral with said bearing block and engaging in one portion a fixed part ofthe box, a locking member Vinsertible in the box and adapted to engage another portion .of said bearing block Yand support for main taining the Alatter in a relativelyV fixed posi-f Vtion in the box, and means for securing said locking member in position in the box. Y Y

3.' In combination with a car axlfrbomanV upper bearing` block and a lower Supportfor- `the axle formed as an integral Vstructure and adapted to engage in one portionv a fixed part of they box,`a shim insertible under the lower edge'oi` said support, means for lockingy said shim Vin such position, a locking member insertible in .the box and adapted to engage another portion of saidv bearing block and support, and means for securing. said locking member in position in the box. 4. In combination with aV car axle box, an upper bearing block and a lower support for the axle iformedas an integral structure and dapted to engage in one portion a fixed part of the box, Va locking member insertible through an opening formed in the topA ot said box and adapted to engage another portion of said bearing block and support, and means for .securing saidjloclring member in position in the box. f

5.; In combination with a car axle box,1an upper bearing block .and a lower support for adapted to'engage 'in one portion a ixed Vpart cf the box, a shim provided at one end the axle formed as'an Vintegral structure and box, with the aperture of .whichthe aperture in said Ashim is adapted to aline,a pin adapted to have its lower end passed through the apertures of saidlug and shim, and to rest upon the bottom of said box, whereby to detachably secure the apertured endV 'or' 'said shim against movement, and means for securing said combined bearing'block and support in a relatively ixed position inthe box. -A Y 6. In combination witha car axle boxV having an oil hole. in its top and provided Vtured endilocated under 'the said apertured lug, fmeans for 'securing the otherV end of A"said lshim against movement, a pin insertible through. said oilphole Vand'adapted to pass through the apertures in said lug and shim and to Vrest up'on'the bottom ofthe box, whereby tolocli the Vcorresponding end ot the shim against movement, and means for securing said bearing block and support in a relatively fixed position in the box.

7. In combination with a car axle box, an upper bearing block and a lower support for the axle formed as an integral structure and adapted to engage in one portion a fixed part 0f the box,a locking member insertible through an opening formed in the top of said box and adapted to engage another portion of said bearing block and support, means for securing said looking member at its lower end against movement, and means bearing against the upper end of said locking member` when the journal box is secured in position on the car for preventing vertical movement of the locking member.

8. A bearing member for the axles of cars comprising a bearing block for engaging over the upper side of the axle and a support depending therefrom for engaging the under side of the axle, said bearing block and support having a common aperture for the axle and being formed as an integral structure.

9. A bearing member for the axles of cars comprising an elongated head constituting a bearing block for engaging over the upper portion of the axle, and a relatively narrow support depending centrally from said head for engaging under the lower portion of the axle, said bearing block and support having a common opening for the axle and being formed as an integral structure.

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto set my hand.

JOHN n. STEPHENS. 

